SXSW 2008 Recap: Cut Copy @ IHEARTCOMIX/Mad Decent Party

I've got Aussie's on the brain this week. Most notably The Presets and Cut Copy (Bumblebeez get honorable mention). Saw The Presets at SXSW and Berlin Festival last year and Cut Copy two times at SXSW this year. And I had no regrets seeing either of them twice. In fact, Cut Copy's last set at the IHEARTCOMIX vs. Mad Decent Blowout Party gave me goosebumps. EsPECially when the enTIRE crowd started jumping in synch and i could feel the CEMENT floor moving up and down like a trampoline beneath me!

The Black Ghosts: TGIM! in London and SXSW 2008 Recap

I know. I'm such a procrastinator. I have a ton of backlogged photos from various gigs that I wanna share. But hey. I'm only human. And luckily Urban Outfitters just gave me the right kick in the tush to at least upload my photos of the Black Ghosts set from the IHEARTCOMIX SXSW day party:

So London, please do take advantage. You won't ever find a better way to start your week! In fact, forget TGIF. Thank God it's Monday!

Anyway. Here's some of my photos from the SXSW set. And if your dance moves are stale these days, take note of my favorites of the night: James doing "The Hammer" and Josh doing the "Nosepicker". Couldn't have busted a move better myself. In fact. If Santogold ever needs to replace her backup dancers, she'll know who to call.

SXSW 2008 Recap: The Virgins @ NME Showcase

The Virgins were the last band I saw at SXSW this year. I'm still in the process of posting all my other delinquent SXSW recaps, but I thought I'd continue with them because ever since their whole album was featured on myspace last week, I can't get them out of my head (especially the song "Fernando Pando").

When I saw them live in Austin, I was seriously expecting some serious Strokes lookalikes or something. I even overheard this guy next to me in the audience telling his friend how he had seen the lead singer strutting around Williamsburg like an übercool hipster. But when they came out on stage, I was surprised at how they actually look like virgins (the lead singer in particular)! I mean, in person, they look NOthing like their sleek press photos (I didn't know whether to praise their stylists and hair and makeup artist for a job well-done or to sue them for false advertising!).

But in the end it's all about the music, which was without a doubt fun and catchy. Plus by the end of the set, I had pretty much gotten used to their nerdiness. It definitely made them seem more genuine, likeable, and dare I say cute (in an oddly attractive way)! Revenge of the Nerds V???







P.S. I couldn't put my finger on it, but Liz to the rescue again! She described their sound as "80's crooner pop." Spot on! And I think the singer's sexy voice is like beer goggles to his geekiness. *swoon*

SXSW 2008 Recap: Playboy Party

Believe it or not, but I didn't make it to ANY official showcases Day 2. And I had my schedule like 85% planned out and everything! But my friend Josh took me to the Playboy party instead (his friend, also a Josh, was bartending and put him on the list). Some girl he knew had bailed so I was going to use her name to get in, but then we realized they were checking IDs for the guestlist (d'oh!). There were like 5 people checking the guestlist and I set my sights on the black girl (you know, to try an milk the "us sistas gotsta stick together" schtick, whatever). But Josh went to her instead so I got the white girl and just went ahead and told her my name. She was trying hard to find it (and I already had this whole spiel ready in my head like, "Are you sure I'm not on there? I like totally RSVP'd like ages ago and so-and-so said I was on it, so please check again, etc."), but before we got that far, black girl asked Josh who his +1 was, and I was like "ME!!!". Pfew! Good thing, cause I would have been super bummed if I hadn't gotten in and it was already too late to make it to any showcases.

But we got in in time to catch the last bit of MGMT, and the other Josh hooked us up with the stiffest whiskey and cokes I've ever had (but kept slinging back like koolaid nonetheless). I didn't feel the full effect until the taxi ride home (read more of my shamefully tragic story here). After MGMT, Moby DJ'd. The last time I had seen him DJ was in like 1996 (the climax of my techno phase) at Nature One (this outdoor rave at an abandoned airfield in Germany), and I must say, I didn't think he still had it in him. In fact, that was one of THE best DJ sets I've ever experienced. Unfortunately I can't remember half of what he played (I think there was an 80s rock song thrown in there somewhere) and I was too busy drinking and dancing to take many pictures, but it was amaaaaazing! The Justice DJ set paled in comparison and Josh (unable to be heard over the voluminous beats) kept pointing to his cell, into which he had typed "blasphemous". Towards the end, two guys in some kind of bear costume got on stage. It was like, "What happened to the Playboy bunnies?!" Ah well, I think the ones that WERE at the party were fakes (or at least D-rate bunnies) anyway.

SXSW 2008 Recap: Jens Lekman @ Club de Ville

I couldn't help but see Jens Lekman again, even though I had seen him barely a month before in Berlin. This time was different anyway (so I told myself), since it was an acoustic set and he wasn't backed by a full band but only one musician on bongos. His swedeness was again my weakness. And this time I even caught all of "A Postcard to Nina" on film. Have a look!

"A Postcard to Nina"

"The Opposite of Hallelujah"

SXSW 2008 Recap: Lou Reed, Moby and N*E*R*D @ Levi's/Fader Fort

After the Filter party on Day 2 I returned to the Fader Fort. The number of stylish hipsters had increased and the Lou Reed tribute was underway. Moby was the last artist in the tribute lineup and to everyone's surprise Lou Reed actually showed up on stage and joined in to play "Walk on the Wild Side". See the video below! Sorry it's not steady. I was a bit tipsy from the SoCo lime and couldn't keep my soulful swaying under control (trust me, trying to hold my arm up for that long was an accomplishment in and of itself). My video of N*E*R*D (who performed afterwards) isn't much better. In fact, it's a LOT worse because they got me (and the whole crowd) jumpin and dancin around like crazy mofo's. But I couldn't not try to capture footage of all the fun (and simply swaying from side to side just wouldn't do). So I suggest taking some dramamine before pressing play.

Lou Reed and Moby

N*E*R*D

SXSW 2008 Recap: American Rag / Filter Day Party @ Cedar Street Courtyard

Day 2 (Thursday) I went to the American Rag/Filter day party. Though I was interested in some of the other bands as well, I mainly wanted to see The Duke Spirit's full set. I wasn't familiar with the first few bands, so I just sat down with my whiskey ginger (about 1.5 sets before The Duke Spirit were about to go on) ready to plan my showcase strategy for that night. But when Low vs Diamond came on playing their music with so much conviction, I couldn't help but be drawn to the front of the stage. They were definitely my most pleasant SXSW surprise. The Duke Spirit set afterwards was incredibly soulful and dynamic as always; they had me shaking what my momma gave me inbetween shots as if I were Liela's tamborine. They most definitely beat out The Kills for The Most Sexy and Photogenic Band of SXSW. Nashville's Be Your Own Pet followed up with their wide-eyed, dizzying, breath-of-fresh-punk energy. Robyn, who I didn't recognize at ALL until she busted out with my old favorite "Show Me Love", continued the leading blonde theme and softened things up a bit, ending the party on a pop note.

Low vs Diamond

The Duke Spirit

Be Your Own Pet

Robyn See more pictures here!